1st Farmer Reflects On Farm Rescue’s Success

DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) — The farm aid organization Farm Rescue this fall will help its 200th farmer in the Upper Midwest. The first man to receive help from the organization says he’s a little surprised that it has grown so quickly.

Matt Biel lost a hand in a farming accident in February 2006. Farm Rescue volunteers showed up at his southwest North Dakota farm two months later to help him plant his crops. He says he was wary at first but it turned out to be a great thing.

North Dakota-based Farm Rescue has since expanded to help farmers in need in South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota and Iowa. It has a database of about 1,000 volunteers around the country. Biel says the volunteers are a big part of Farm Rescue’s success.